GENERAL NEWS

‘Gobe’, what it means and what it used to be called

It is one of the meals that is enjoyed by all classes of people in society, rich, middle class and even the poor.

Whether for breakfast, lunch or supper, every joint that sells ‘Gobe’ is crowded with customers always.

The slang ‘Gobe’ as explained by some sections of the public is an abbreviation for – Gari, Oil, Beans, Egg.

The meal comprises carefully cooked black-eyed beans, served with fried ripe plantain, flaked cassava granite (gari) and red palm oil. Some ‘Gobe’ lovers go ahead to add pear, eggs other protein foods.

As popular as the name ‘Gobe’ is getting, some sections of the Ga community are not happy with the change of name from what it is originally known ‘Yo ke gari’ (Beans and gari) or ‘tatale’. One such is Ghana’s former Attorney General Ayikoi Otoo, who sees the change of name as a deliberate effort to get rid of the indigenous language of the Ga people.

Speaking on Accra-based Joy News, the proud Ga man, Ayikoi Otoo began by criticizing what seems to be the attempt to replace the Ga word of welcome which is ‘awaawaa atuu’ to what ‘akwaaba’.

“We are in Accra land, we have our gods, our customs and our traditions, this can be done and shown to other people who visit. Why is it that only in Accra it’s no more, now you can import people to come and dance and show other people? Who says we don’t have an equivalence on ‘akwaaba. We use to say ‘awaawaa atuu’. When we were young. you will leave the nuclear house, and go to the extended house and immediately the old people see you, they run to you and say ‘awaawaa atuu’ and then that is welcome.

“The Dagme people will say ‘mo yhee mo yhee’, we have them. But deliberately saying that you don’t have them so it should be replaced with ‘akwaaba’. Everywhere you go should be ‘akwaaba’, you cant say ‘awaawaa atuu’. Even when were young at the airport we used to have ‘awaawa atuu’, around the Big Six time, I remember ‘awaawa atuu’ and the rest but now why,” he added.

The former Attorney General bemoans the sudden change of name of one of the most loved delicacies from what it used to be to now, ‘Gobe’.

“I was giving an example when you people were talking about food, I wrote to you that we used to say ‘Y) k3 Gari’ or ‘tatale’ now all of a sudden ‘Gobe’. When you were growing up, did you hear anything called ‘Gobe? So, why is it that the Ga word, ‘Y) k3 tatale’ or ‘Y) k3 gari’ should now give way to something they call ‘Gobe,” he said in disagreement.

In responding to the presenter who justified the change of name as an evolution, Ayikoi Otoo interjected to say that there is nothing evolution about the change of name but rather an attempt to push away the Ga people.

“There is nothing evolution and that is why I am telling you that what you are doing is dangerous and you should stop it, you should stop it. Rawlings came and say how he used to eat ‘Y) ke gari’, why didn’t he say ‘I used to eat Gobe’ was there any word like that?

“So, why is there this deliberate thing to push the people away,” he added.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button